Coke oven door and means for handling the same



Aug. 18, 1942. A. F. G IESE, JR 2,293,434

COKE OVEN DOOR AND MEANS FOR HANDLING THE SAME Filed Jan. 3, 1940 t 3 Sheets-Sheet l /fi i "g,

o 24 a 1*]Y 4 6 F153. wy/ 55 29 /z 50 /Z122 ffiillj 3/2420 M F5 3 A? I [mania]:- I 40 1/57 /T/5, J9,

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8, 1942. A. F. GIESE, JR

COKE OVEN DOOR AND MEANS FOR HANDLING THE SAME Filed Jan. 3, 1940 g- 1942- A. F. GIESE, JR 2,293,434

COKE QVEN DOOR AND MEANS FOR HANDLING THE SAME Filed Jan. 3, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fF'IEAE]- [Wu/6M0]? Patented Aug. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COKE OVEN DOOR AND MEANS FOR HANDLING THE SAME August F. Giese, Jr., Gary, Ind.

Application January 3, 1940, Serial No. 312,268

18 Claims. (Cl. 202-248) This invention relates to doors, and particularly to an'improved self-sealing door for coke ovens and the like and to an improved locking means therefor and further, to a means for handling such doors and actuating the locking means thereof. 7 r

In by-product coke ovens, particularly of the horizontal flue type, a great amount of difliculty has been experienced in providing a satisfactory oven closure or door, that is, a door or closure which insures a tight fit between the door and the frame of the oven. Such a door should fit tightly so as to prevent the leakage of gases around the edges thereof from the coking chamber and heating flues, thereby eliminating any danger of the door from becoming warped or buckled.

Various types of doors and sealing means have been suggested and used to prevent such leakage of gases but none of them has been entirely satisfactory. In the operation of coke ovens, the space between the door and frame around the edges thereof, or the sealing means therebetween is subjected to the action of the tar laden distillation products and in most of the types of doors that have been suggested and used, tar

accumulated on the sealing edges of the door and frame with the result that on removing the door from the oven opening and its subsequent replacement thereover, the tar deposit tended to prevent the sealing means from making substantially a gas-tight joint or closure. Consequently, the coal dust and tar that accumulated on the doors and frames would have to be removed from the sealing edges and.seats thereof practically after every charge was removed from the ovens so as to insure against the collection of these carbonized particles on the sealing edges or surfaces. At times, th se carbonized particles would become embeddedin the sealing edges of the doors cutting the same thereby necessitating the changing of the entire unit. oftentimes, such doors were sealed by manually packing the space between the door and frame with fire clay to seal the same, but this practice was laborious and expensive as well as dangerous. 4

Thus, it will be seen that such doors heretofore employed were not only expensive and difficult to maintain, but also were ineffective in their use in that after a short period of operation leakage would invariably occur which would consequently result in warpage of the doors and frames. In the present invention, there is provided an improved door for coke ovens which is self-sealing and one in which all of the above disadvantages have been eliminated.

Accordingly, it is-one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved door for coke ovens and the like which effectively and efficiently seals the opening therein against leakage and an improved locking mechanism therefor which provides a locking pressure against the frame or seat thereof substantially equally all around the door to seal the same against leakage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved locking mechanism for coke oven doors and the like by which the seating pressure of the door on its seat or frame can be accurately controlled and easily adjusted to suit operating conditions.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a door for coke ovens and the like in which the effective seating area thereof on the frame or seat is reduced to a minimum thereby tending to eliminate the danger 'of carbonized coal dust from collecting thereon'and adhering thereto.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved door frame or seat which is simple and convenient to remove and maintain and one that can be removed and replaced without disturbing the remainder of the oven or unit.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improved means or device for handling such doors, that is, for removing and replacing the same with means incorporated therewith for automatically operating the locking mechanism thereof. 1

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown, for the purpose of illustration, one embodiment and several modifications which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved door of my invention showing the same in locked Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on line VI-VI of Figure 1; I

Figure 7 is a vertical section similar to Figurefi showing the locking mechanism in its locked position and showing a slight modification of the device for handling the doorand actuating the locking mechanism thereof;

Figure 8 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the modified form of device for handling the door as shown in Figure '7, showing the door in its unlocked position;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of a corner of the frame showing a front elevation of a modified form of hook-like cam member which may be used with the present invention; and,

Figure is a side view thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved self-sealing door of the present invention is shown incorporated merely for the-purpose of illustration with the discharge opening 2 of a coke oven 3 of th horizontal flue type. There is securely positioned in the oven wall.

around the opening 2,'preferably flush with the outer wall of the oven, ametallic frame 4 preferably of an angle iron construction, having a plurality of pairs of hook-like cam members 5 securely arranged thereon at spaced apart intervals along the vertical sides thereof, that is, one of each pair of hook-like members is disposed on one side of the frame and the other disposeddirectly opposite therefrom on the other side thereof. There is arranged around the opening within the frame 4, preferably a removable angle iron member 6 having an outwardly extending knifelike sealing edge portion 1. The angle iron member 3 is securely attached to the frame member 4 preferably by means of bolts 8 so as to be removably attached thereto. The hook-like cam members 5 are securely attached to the frame 4 preferably by means of bolts 9, and each of the hook-like cam members 5 has a. cam portion III arranged therewith having a compound curve for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The improved door of the present invention comprises a relatively thick metallic plate'member 12 slightly larger than the discharge opening 2 in the oven or the-opening that it is adapted to close. There is arranged on the inner side of the plate I2, a conventional refractory portion I3 of any suitable refractory material which is adapted to fit within the opening in the oven.

On the outer side of the plate I2 along each of the vertical sides thereof, there is securely arranged thereon a plurality of outwardly extending brackets I4 which support a frame-like supporting member I5, consisting preferably of a channel member positioned at a spaced distance forwardly of the outer face of the plate I2 at both the bottom, top andsides of the plate I2. There is horizontally arranged between the opposite vertical walls of the side portions or channels of the frame IS a pair of door supporting spindles or shafts I6 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

Thelock'ing mechanism of the present invention consists 'of a plurality of horizontally arranged bar-like members or shafts II, namely, five in the present instance, disposed between the supporting frame I5 and the outer face of the plate member I2, which extend through vertically disposed slots I8' arranged in the bracketlike members I4 and with each of them adapted to cooperate with one of the pairs of hook-like cam members I0 carried by the frame 4 in a manner to be explained later. The bar-lik memguide brackets 2 I.

hers I! are preferably securely attached to a vertical reciprocable actuating member I9 as at 20 which extends longitudinally of th plate-like member I2. The actuating member I9 is positioned preferably centrally of the plate member I2 and is preferably guided in its vertical movement thereon by means of a pair of U-shaped There is securely arranged on the actuating member I9 a, pair of brackets 22 with each having a cross bar portion 23 for actuating the same.

There is rotatably disposed on the outer free end of each of the bar-like members I! beyond the slots I8 in the brackets I4, a roller member 24 which is adapted to cooperate with the cam portion III of the respective hook-like member 5 and there is also rotatably arranged on each of the cross bar members I! next to and inside of the roller member 24 another roller member 25 which is adapted to cooperate with the inner wall of the frame supporting member I5 within the slot I8 of the respective bracket member I4.

In Figures 1 and 5, there is shown a preferred construction of a device or means for handling the door of the present invention and for automatically actuating the locking mechanism thereof. This device consists of a horizontally disposed retractable member 26 which may be suitably disposed on a carriage, a trolley on rails, or any other suitable movable device for moving the same along the row of coke ovens and which may be actuated in any suitable manner. There is securely arranged on the outer end of. the retractable member 26 a vertically disposed yokelike portion 21 having finger-like end or slotted portions 28 arranged in the free ends thereof which are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the supporting spindles or shafts I6 carried by the supporting frame I5, There is reciprocably arranged on the yoke-like member 21, a vertically disposed rack-like member 29 having a pair of spaced apart hook-like portions 30 associated therewith which are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance apart of the crossbar portions 23 of the bracket members 22 carried by the actuating member I9 with each of the hook-like members 30 having an upper lip portion 30 associated therewith. There is arranged preferably on the back side of the racklike member 29, a gear rack 3| which is adapted to cooperate with a pinion gear 32 securely mounted on a shaft 33 rotatably arranged in the yoke-like portion 21 carried by the retractable member 26. There is also mounted on the shaft 33, a gear 34 which meshes with a gear 35 on the shaft of the gear train arranged in the gear box 36. The gear train is driven by a motor 3'! through the gear 38 on the end of the shaft thereof which meshes with gear 39 of the gear box.

In Figure ,1, 'the door is shown disposed over the opening in the oven and the locking mechanism'is shown in its locked position. It will be seen that the knife-like edge portion of the sealing member 6 is positioned against the inner surface of the plate member I2, thereby forming a gas-tight closure for the opening in the oven,

and that the amount of pressure that the plate l2 bears against the knife-like edge portion 1 is controlled by the bar-like members I! .through' their cooperation with the cam portion I0 of the hook-like members'5. That is to say, the lower the actuating member l9 together with the barportions I. Thus, it will be seen that the amount of pressure that the plate l2 exerts against the knife-like sealing edge can be readily controlled by the actuating member l9 and the bar-like members II. It will be understood that the angle sealing member 6 may be securely attached to the plate I2, if desired. In such a case, the knifelike edge portion 1 thereof would then abut against the outer flat surface of the door frame 4 to seal the opening. I

To remove the door from over the opening in the oven, the door handling device is moved opposite the door as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The retractable member 23 is then moved inwardly toward the door until the slotted portions 28 carried thereby engage with the spindles or shafts l6 carried by the supporting frame [5, and the hook-like portions 30 carried by the rack-like member 29 engage with the cross-bars 23 of the brackets 22 carried by the actuating member If), as shown in the broken lines of Figure 1. The motor 31 is then set in operation so that the actuating member I9 is moved upwardly through the action of the rack-like member 29, the gear rack.3l and the gears 33, 34, 35 and the gear box 36. After the actuating member l9, together with the bar-like members I! carried thereby, is moved upwardly the proper distance so that the barlike members I1 are out of engagement with the hook-like cam members carried by the frame 4 as shown in the broken lines of Figure 4, the retractable member 26 together with the door now carried by the yoke-like portion 28 thereof, is moved outwardly away from the opening in the oven. The carriage on which the retractable member 26 is mounted, together with the door carried thereby, is then moved to one side and the coke pushed out of the oven through the opening 2.

After the coke has been pushed from the oven and it is desired to replace the door over the discharge opening, the carriage on which the retractable member 25 is mounted is again moved opposite the opening in the oven and the retractable member moved so as to properly position the door over the opening as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. After the door has been properly positioned over the opening with the plate [2 against the knife-like portions 1 of the sealing member 6, the motor 31 is again set in operation in the reverse direction from before so as to move the rack-like member 29 in a downwardly direction and the lip portions 30 of the hook-like members 30 engage with the top of the cross-bar members 23 carried by the bracket members 22 which are, in turn, carried by the actuating member l9, thereby forclhgthe'same together with the cross-bar member [1; carried thereby downwardly into engagement withthe cam portions in of the hook-like ca members 5 carried by the frame 4. It will, I that the yoke-like portion 21) supports the door and holds the same in allgnmentwith the'opening in the oven by means of'the'spindles or shafts l6 while the door is being removed therefrom and replaced thereover. 7

It will be seen that in moving the actuating member l9 that the rollers 24 arranged on the ends of the bar-like members l'l cooperate with the cam portions [0 of the hook-like cam members 5 and rotate in one direction, while the rollers 25 carried thereby cooperate with the inner wall of the supporting frame l5 and rotate in an opposite direction from that of the rollers 24. Thus, it will be seen that through the use understood of these rollers a smooth actuation of the actuating member l9, together with the cross members I! carried thereby, is obtained, thereby eliminating any frictional contact between the cooperating parts.

In Figures 7 and 8, there is shown a modified construction of a device or means for handling the door and for actuating the locking mechanism thereof. In this construction, there is provided a retractable member 26 as before having a yoke-like portion 21 with finger-like portions or slots 28 arranged therein which are again adapted to cooperate with the shafts or spindles l6 arranged on the supporting frame 15. There is slidably arranged on the yoke-like portion 21 9. pair of hook-like members 40, similar to the hooklike portions 30 in the preferred construction, which are interconnected by a vertically disposed shaft 4|, that is, the hook-like portions 40 are securely attached in any suitable manner to the opposed ends of the shaft 4|. There is arranged preferably between the slidable hook-like members 40, a pneumatic cylinder 42 which is preferably positioned intermediate the length of the shaft 4|. There is securely mounted on the shaft 4| intermediate the length thereof within the cylinder 42, a piston 43. It will be seen in this construction that the shaft 4! together with the hook-like members 40 carried thereby is actuatedin a vertical plane to operate the actuating member l9, together with the bar-like members I! carried thereby as before, by means of the pneumatic cylinder 42 and that the locking mechanism is actuated substantially in the same manner as before to remove the door from the opening.

In Figures 9 and 10, there is shown a modified form of a hook-like cam member which may be used in connection with the present invention. This construction comprises a bracket 44 securely attached to the frame 4 as before. There is pivotally arranged at 45 on the outer end of the bracket 44, a cam member 46 similar to the cam portion [0 of the preferredform of cam member 5. The cam member 46 has a portion 41 extending below its pivot 45 and there is disposed between this lower extending portion 41 and the base of the bracket 44 preferably a coil spring 48 which is disposed around a bolt or stud 49 to hold the same in position therebetween. It will be seen that in this construction the amount of pressure that the plate l2 exerts upon the knifelike edge portion 1 of the sealing member 6 is partially determined by the compressive force of the coil spring 48.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided an improved type of door for the openings in coke ovens and the like which automaticlly seals itself when it is properly positioned over the openings therein, thereby preventing the leakage of gas around the edges thereof from within the oven. It will also be seen that there is provided aremovable sealing member which can be easily and quickly removed and replaced if necessary without disturbing the remainder of the door structure. a

It will be seen further that there is provided a device or means for handling the door and for actuating the locking mechanism thereof, which is substantially automatic in its use, and one which safely and efliciently removes the door from the opening in the oven thereby eliminating any manual handling thereof or any manual actuation of the locking mechanism.

While I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that these embodiments are merelyfor the'purpose of illustration and description, and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a series of aligned coke ovens or the like, mechanical means for handling the doors thereof including in combination a reciprocable means arranged on each of said doors for movement relative thereto for locking the same on their respective openings by means of a cam arrangement, retractable means for holding and supporting said doors and moving the same away from and toward the openings, movable means carried by said retractable means for actuating said reciprocable means carried by said doors together with the locking means controlled thereby, said retractable means adapted to hold any one of said doors stationary in closed position over the opening in any one of said ovens while said movable means actuates the reciprocable means to lock or unlock the door, and means for operating said movable means.

2. The combination with an opening which is adapted to be closed, of a frame arranged around said opening,.a plurality of hook-like cam members carried by said frame, a door for closing said opening, a plurality of means carried by said door for movement relative thereto with said means adapted to cooperate with said hook-like cam members to securely lock said door in position over the opening, means for actuating said locking means, means for holding said door stationary in closed position over said opening while the locking means carried by said door is actuated by said last mentioned meansto lock or unlock the door, and means carried by said door which is adapted to cooperate with means carried by said frame for securely sealing the space between the door and said frame around the edges thereof.

3. The combination with an opening which is adapted to be closed, of a metallic frame arranged around said opening, a plurality of pairs of hook-like cam members arranged on the opposed edges of said frame, a door for closing said opening, a plurality of bar-like members arranged on said door for movement relative thereto with each of said bar-like members adapted to cooperate with one of the pairs of hook-like cam members to securely lock said door in position over the opening, means for actuating said bar-like members, means for holding said door stationary in closed position over said opening while the bar-like members carried by said door are actuated by said last mentioned means to lock or unlock the door, and means carried by said door which is adapted to cooperate with means carried by said frame for securely sealing the space between the door and said frame around the edges thereof.

4. The combination with an opening which is adapted to be closed, of a door for closing said opening, a plurality of pairs of cam members securely arranged along the opposed edges of said opening and extending outwardly from the edges thereof, a plurality of bar-like members arranged on said door for movement relative thereto with each of said bar-like members adapted to cooperate with one of the pairs of cam members, all of said bar-like members adapted to be moved in one direction whereby the bar-like members engage with the cam members so as to gradually force the door securely in position over the opening by a camming action to lock the same, and adapted to be moved in the opposite direction whereby the bar-like members disengage from the cam members so as to permit the removal of the door from over the opening, means for actuating said bar-like members, and means for holding said door stationary in closed position over said opening while the bar-like members carried by said door are actuated by said last mentioned means to lock or unlock the door.

5. The combination with an opening which is adapted to be closed, a metallic frame arranged around said'opening, a plurality of hook-like cam members securely arranged on the opposed edges of said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, a door for closing said opening, a longitudinally extending member reciprocably arranged on said door for movement relative thereto, a plurality of bar-like members securely arranged on said member which are adapted to cooperate with said hook-like cam members, said reciprocably arranged member together with the bar-like members carried thereby adapted to be moved in one direction whereby the bar-like members engage with the hook-like members so as to gradually force the door securely in position over the opening by a camming action to lock the same, and adapted to be moved in the opposite direction whereby the bar-like members disengage from the hook-like cam members so as to permit the removal of the door from over the opening, means for actuating said-reciprocably arranged member together with said bar-like members carried thereby, means for holding said door stationary in closed position over said opening while the reciprocably arranged member to-' gether with the bar-like members carried thereby Y is actuated by said last mentioned means to lock or unlock the door, and cooperable means arranged between said door and said frame which are adapted to securely seal the space between the door and the frame around the edges thereof when the door is forced into its closed position by the hook-like cam members.

6. The combination with an opening which is adapted to be closed, of a metallic frame arranged around said opening, a plurality of pairs of hook-like cam members arranged on the opposed edges of said frame, a door for closing said opening, a longitudinally extending member reciprocably arranged on said door for movement relative thereto, a plurality of bar-like members securely arranged on said reciprocable member with each of said bar-like members adapted to cooperate with one of the pairs of hook-like members to securely locksaid door inposition over the opening, means for actuating said reciprocably arranged member together with said bar-like members carried thereby, means I for holding said door stationary in closed position over said opening while the reciprocably arranged member together with the bar-like members carried thereby is actuated by said last mentioned means to lock or unlock the door, and means carried by said frame which is adapted to cooperate with said door for securely sealing the space between the frame and the door around the edges thereof.

'7. The combination as defined in claim 6, wherein the means carried by the frame which is adapted to cooperate with the door for securely sealing the space between the frame and the door around the edges thereof consists of an angle member carried by the frame having a substan tiaily knife-like edge which is adapted to abut against the inner surface of the door.

8. The combination with an opening which is adapted to be closed, of a metallic frame arranged around said opening, a plurality of pairs of hook-like cam members securely arranged on the opposed edges of said frame, a door for closing said opening, a longitudinally extending actuating member arranged on said door for limited reciprocable movement thereon relative thereto, a plurality of bar-like cross members securely arranged on said actuating member with each having a roller bearing member arranged on each end thereof, each of said bar-like cross members and the roller bearing carried thereby adapted to cooperate with one of the pairs of hook-like cam members to securely hold said door in position over the opening, means for actuating said reciprocably arranged member together with said bar-like members carried thereby, means for holdingsaid door stationary in closed position over said opening while the reciprocably arranged member together with the bar-like members carried thereby is actuated by said last mentioned m ans to lock or unlock the door, and means arranged between said door and said frame which is adapted to securely seal the space therebetween around the edges thereof.

9. In combination with a coke oven having an opening arranged therein, a metallic frame arranged around the opening in said oven, a plurality of hook-like cam members securely arranged on the opposed vertical sides of said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, a door for closing said opening, a longitudinally extending actuating member vertically and reciprocably arranged on said door for movement relative thereto, a plurality of bar-like members securely arranged on said actuating member which are adapted to cooperate with said hook-like cam members, said actuating member together with the bar-like members carried thereby adapted to be moved in one direction whereby the barlike members engage with the hook-like members so as to gradually force-the door securely in position over the opening by a camming action to lock the same, and adapted to be moved in the opposite direction whereby the bar-like members disengage from the hook-like members so as to permit removal of the door from over the opening, means for actuating said reciprocably arranged member together with said bar-like members carried thereby, means for holding said door stationary in closed position over said opening while the reciprocably arranged member together withrthe bar-like members carried thereby is actuated by said last mentioned means to.lock or unlock the door, and cooperable means arranged between the door and the frame to securely seal the space therebetween around the edges thereof against leakage when the door is bers adapted to cooperate with one of the pairs of hook-like cam members, said actuating member together with the cross members carried thereby adapted to be moved in one direction whereby the cross members engage with the hook-like members so as to gradually force the door securely in position over the opening by a camming action, to lock the same, and adapted to be moved in the opposite direction whereby the cross members disengage from the hook-like members so as to permit the removal of the door from over the opening, means for actuating said actuating member together with the bar-like cross members carried thereby, and means for' frame and extending outwardly therefrom, a

door including a flat plate member slightly larger than said opening for closing the same, a longitudinally extending actuating member vertically arranged on the outer surface of said door adjacent said plate member for movement relative thereto, said actuating member arranged substantially centrally of said door and being reciprocably mounted thereon, a plurality of barlike cross members securely arranged horizontally on said actuating member with each of said cross members adapted to cooperate with one of the pairs of hook-like cam members to securely locksaid door in position over the opening, means for actuating said actuating member together with the bar-like cross members carried thereby, means for holding said door stationary in closed position over said opening while the actuating member together with the bar-like cross members carried thereby is actuated by said last mentioned means to lock or unlock the door, and a metallic angle member arranged around said frame, said angle member having substantially a knife edge which is adapted to abut against the inner surface of the plate member of said door and cooperates therewith to seal the spac therebetween around the edges thereof so as to prevent the escape of gases from theoven.

12. In a series of aligned coke ovens or the like, a door arranged with each of said ovens for closing theopening thereof, a locking mechanism carried by each of said doors and being movable relative thereto, means arranged for movement along the series of coke ovens for handling said doors including a retractable member arranged for reciprocable movement in a horizontal plane, a lock actuating means carried by said retractable member and being movable relative thereto,

means carried by said retractable member for holding any one of said doors stationary in closed position over the opening in any one of said ovens while the locking mechanism carried by the door is actuated by said last mentioned-means to lock or unlock the door, means'for actuating said lock actuating means, and means for actuating said retractable member.

13. In a series of aligned coke ovens or the like, a door arranged witheach of said ovens for closing the opening thereof, a locking mechanism carried by each of said doors and being movable relative thereto, means arranged for movement along the series of coke ovens including a retractable member arranged for reciprocable movement in a horizontal plane, a lock actuating means carried by said retractable member and being movable relative thereto, means carried by said retractable member for holding any one of said doors stationary in closed position over the opening in any one of said ovens while the locking mechanism carried by the door is actuated by said last mentioned means to lock or unlock the door, pneumatic means for actuating said lock actuating means, and means for actuating said retractable member.

14. In a series of ali ned coke ovens or the like, a door arranged with each of said ovens for closing the opening thereof, a lockingmechanism carried byeach of said doors, and being movable relative thereto, means arranged for movement along the series of coke ovens including a retractable member arranged for reciprocable movement in a horizontal plane, a lock actuating 7 member carried by said retractable member and being movable relative thereto, means carried by said retractable member for holding any one of said doors stationary in closed position over the opening in any one of said ovens while the locking mechanism carried by the door is actuated by said last mentioned means tolock or unlock the door, hook-like means carried by said lock actuating member for engagement with the looking mechanism of any one of said doors so as to actuate the same, means for actuating said lock actuating member, and means for actuating said retractable member.

15. In a series of ali ned coke ovens or the like, a door arranged with each of said ovens for closing the opening thereof, a locking mechanism carried by each of said doors and being movable relative thereto, means arranged for movement I along said series of coke ovens including a retractable member arranged for reciprocable movement in a horizontal plane, a vertically arranged yoke-like portion carried by said retractable member, a lock actuating member arranged on said retractable member and being movable relative thereto, spaced apart finger-like means arranged onthe outer free end of said yoke-like member for engagement with at least a pair of horizontally disposed bars carried by each of said doors for holding any one of the doors stationary in closed position over the opening in any one of said ovens while the locking mechanism carried by the door is actuated by said lockv actuating member to lock or unlock the door, at least a pair of hook-like portions carried by said lock actuating member for engaging with the locking mechanism of any one" of said doors so as to actuate the same, means for actuating said lock actuating member, and means for actuating said retractable member.

' 16. Ina series oi aligned coke ovens or the like, a door arranged with each of said ovens for closing the opening thereof, a reciprocably actuated locking mechanism carried by each of said doors and being movable relative thereto, means armeans carried by said retractable member for holding and supporting any one of said doors, a lock actuating member carried by said retractable member for reciprocable movement in a vertical plane, means carried by said lock actuating member for engaging with the locking mechanism of any one of said doors so as to actuate the same, a gear rack carried by said lock actuating member, a motor for actuating said gear rack, and means for actuating said retractable member.

17. In a series of aligned coke ovens or the like, a door arranged with each of the ovens for closing the opening thereof, a vertically actuated locking mechanism carried by'each of said doors.

for reciprocable movement relative thereto for locking the doors over their respective openings, means arranged for movement along the series of ovens including a retractable member arranged for reciprocable movement in a horizontal plane, means arranged with said retractable member which is adapted to cooperate with means carried by any one of said doors for holding and supportin the same, means carried by said retractable member for reciprocable movement ina vertical plane relative thereto, means carried by said last mentioned means which is adapted to engage with and actuate the vertically actuated locking mechanism of any one of said doorsupon movement thereof, and means foractuating said retractable member.

18. In a series of aligned coke ovens or the like, with each of the ovens having a metallic frame arranged around the opening therein with a plurality of pairs of hook-like cam members arranged on the opposed edges thereof, a door arranged with each of the ovens for closing the opening thereof, a locking mechanism including a vertically arranged actuating member recliprocably carried by each of said doors for movement relative thereto with a plurality of horizontally extending bar-like members carried by each of said actuating members with each of the bar-like members adapted to cooperate with their respective hook-like cam members for looking the door in position over the opening, means arranged for movement along the series of ovens including a retractable member arranged for reciprocable movement in a horizontal plane, means carried by said retractable member which is adapted to cooperate with means carried by any one of said doors for holding and supporting the same, a lock actuating member arranged on said retractable member for reciprocable movement in ranged for movement along said series of coke ovens including a retractable member arranged for reciprocable movement in a horizontal plane,

a vertical plane relative thereto, means carried by said'lock actuating member which is adapted to engage with and actuate the vertically arranged actuating member carried by any one of said doors together with the horizontally disposed bar-like members carried thereby upon movement thereof, means for operating said lock actuating member, and means for actuating said retractable member.

AUGUST F. GIESE, JR. 

